PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister retired Justice Dost Mohammad Khan has ordered investigation into the recent killing of Sikh leader Charanjeet Singh along scientific lines.

He told a Sikh delegation during a meeting in his office here that the law-enforcement agencies would provide security to members of their community.

The CM said investigation into the killing of Chanjeet Singh would be carried out along scientific lines to bring the culpable people to justice.

He also promised the payment of compensation to the heirs of Chanjeet Singh on the pattern of the Shuhada Package.

Retired Justice Dost assured visitors of the effective resolution of their problems and construction of Shamshan Gaat, a dispensary in gurdwara and a separate school.

Also in the day, Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq met the chief minister at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

The CM told the visitor that his mandate was to hold general elections and it was his top priority to do so in a free, fair and transparent manner.

Promises religious minority effective resolution of problems

He also chaired a meeting here to discuss the situation after the Fata’s merger with KP and formation of administrative units (consolidated divisions).

Chief secretary Azam Khan, additional chief secretary Fata, senior member of the board of revenue, health secretary and other officials attended the meeting.

The chief secretary informed participants about progress on the implementation of Fata reforms and said a committee headed by the law minister would formulate a strategy and prepare TORs on the matter.

The participants discussed the matters on Nizam-i-Adl, FC, taxcollection and revenue post Fata-KP merger, said a statement issued here.

Retired Justice Dost said the extension of KP’s governance structure to erstwhile Fata, introduction of transparent governance, extension of laws and rules and regulations there, and introduction of a policy implementation mechanism for tribal region’s mainstreaming were some of the challenges, which needed complete attention.

He said the sooner Fata people got justice, the better it was for the country.

The CM agreed in principle to issue the administrative units, namely consolidated divisions, but said the actual problem would be the unavailability of resources.

“As long as the federal government doesn’t transfer resources, the reforms process will continue moving ahead at a slow pace,” he said.

Retired Justice Dost said the government had to decide about new recruitment, creation of posts, infrastructure development, and holding of local body elections in Oct 2018.

“All these (decisions) need resources,” he said.

The CM asked the relevant authorities to meet Fata elders and educate them about the laws. He said he was hopeful that the elders were fully cognizant of the situation and would cooperate with the authorities.

Retired Justice Dost said Fata needed census and land records for durable peace as the records would steer the region’s development.

He met a group of traders and assured them of realistic policies and steps for their relief.

The CM said the government would certainly give them incentives but traders should help mitigate the problems of the poor people.

He promised necessary action on power and gas outages, implementation of industrial policy, establishment of Kohat Industrial Zone, and resolution of property tax related issues.

The delegation was led by Zahid Shinwari of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and comprised representatives of Kohat, Mardan, Charsadda and Swabi chambers.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2018